The Verri Industries Douglas United Dragons have slumped to the fourth straight away defeat following a 4-2 loss in Innisfail on Sunday night.

It is a result that has left the Dragons in sixth place on the ladder, four points outside the top four at the conclusion of the first round of fixtures. There are also fresh injury concerns with Valentine Akem limping off in the 18th minute with a hamstring strain.

The Dragons started the match brightly forcing a number of early corners. Captain Nick Tither narrowly headed over from one of these while the Dragons were looking generally threatening from set pieces.

However, as has been the case so often this year a moment of lapse defending cost dearly. Innisfail attacked down the left hand side, where they had a lot of success throughout the match, and the fullbacks run was not tracked allowing him to deliver a ball to the far post which was tucked home off the inside of the post.

There has been plenty of character shown by the Dragons at various times this season so it was no surprise to see them back on level terms shortly after. Jordan Butterss delivered a lovely free kick from the right hand side and found skipper Tither unmarked who made no mistake from twelve yards out.

The Dragons had responded well and got themselves back in to the match and should have looked to push on from there, however they were dealt a cruel blow when Akem overstretched for a ball and while he bravely tried to carry on the damage was too much. This forced a reshuffle with Ben Syrett coming into midfield and Tither moving back in to centre half.

The reshuffle did not have the desired effect though as first a long clearance was allowed to bounce and then it was not cleared, allowing an Innisfail striker to shoot past an exposed Fitzgerald in the Douglas goal.

It was another very soft goal for the Dragons to concede, one that you would describe as a coach killer. Heading to half time Douglas continued to look a threat from set pieces but were unable to find the back of the net.

The second half saw Douglas switch to a 4-4-2 formation to give lone striker Ash Woods some support however it was Innisfail who started the brighter, doubling their advantage in the 55th minute after the smallest player on the pitch won a header at the far post which again went in off the post.

Again the Dragons refused to give up and a wayward ball from Joe Fox was turned into a great ball by Tither who went forward and found Woods, who slotted the ball home to give the Dragons a sniff again.

And the Dragons could have found themselves level when a lovely turn in the box from Ian Marsh led to him being fouled only for the referee to wave away the Douglas claims for a penalty. To rub salt in the wound Innisfail won a free kick down the other end which was dispatched into the bottom corner to give the final scoreline of 4-2.

The Paddy’s Bar Man of the Match went to Nick Tither. Next up for the Dragons is a trip to Edge Hill in what will again prove to be a tough test. The team need to start to turn around their away form if they are to make good their claims that they are worthy of a playoff place.

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